Chapter 85: I Risked My Life for Lufia, Can't I Enjoy Myself a Little?
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Lufia has completed a perfect "Loguetown Pilgrimage," visiting Gol D. Roger's Bar, reaching the Pirate King's execution platform, and declaring her dreams to the world here. She is very satisfied with this journey. Favorability +10%]
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Lufia witnessed you descending from the sky at a life-or-death moment, using "No Sword Style: Geppo Iaijutsu" to sever the execution blade. She finds this action "extremely cool." Favorability +10%]
[Lufia's Current Favorability: Close Friend Level 65%]
Held in Lufia's arms while fleeing for their lives, Ralph noticed the system notifications and revealed a faint smile.
Especially at the second one.
Not because "you saved her," but because "the way you saved her was cool."
That was so Lufia.
The system notifications weren't finished yet.
[Ding!]
[System Detection: Monkey D. Dragon (Leader of the Revolutionary Army) has shifted his attitude toward the host from "Highly Suspicious" to "Preliminary Approval." Favorability increased, achieving "Friend" relationship]
[Relationship Reward: Upon the target's death, guaranteed acquisition of their Devil Fruit ability through "Fruit Reincarnation Method" (if the target is a Devil Fruit user)]
Ralph was momentarily stunned.
...This system of yours is really ridiculous!
Forget about whether I'd wish for Lufia's father to die just for some Devil Fruit ability—we don't even know for sure if Dragon is a Devil Fruit user!
And you call this a reward?
Most people speculate that Monkey D. Dragon has Devil Fruit abilities, but what if he doesn't!
System, you even added that parenthetical note—should I call you meticulous or humorous!
It seems the most "useless" reward from the system so far has appeared!
Whatever, skip skip.
[Ding!]
[System Detection: Alvida (Sube Sube no Mi user) has developed complex feelings toward the host. Favorability increased, achieving "Friend" relationship]
[Relationship Reward: Innate Physical Strength (Beginner)]
Ralph was stunned again.
So not all ability users yield Devil Fruit abilities as rewards!
Also, when did Alvida and I become friends?
Whatever, that's not the main point anyway.
Ralph focused his attention on the "Innate Physical Strength" reward.
[Innate Physical Strength (Beginner): Special innate talent skill. Significantly enhances the host's base strength. This is an innate-type skill that cannot be leveled up through conventional training. It can only be upgraded by achieving "Friend" relationships with "characters possessing the same or stronger innate talents" and obtaining their "Innate Physical Strength" rewards.]
Ralph carefully read the description.
Significant strength improvement.
This was actually a practical skill.
No matter the situation, having greater physical strength is always useful.
But when he saw the "cannot be improved through training" clause, Ralph understood.
This was a typical "innate skill"—you either have it from birth or you don't.
Some people are born with immense strength, like Big Mom, like the Giants, like certain special races.
And now, through system rewards, Ralph had obtained the "entry version" of this talent.
To upgrade it, he needed to build relationships with other naturally strong characters.
That shouldn't be too difficult.
After all, in the world of One Piece, characters and even races with natural immense strength emerge endlessly.
To begin with, upon entering the Grand Line, one could encounter two giants, Dorry and Brogy, in Little Garden.
These two were beings capable of wielding greatswords longer than 14 meters and sending dinosaurs flying with a single punch.
But the problem was...
No matter how you thought about it, the highest level of innate physical strength couldn't possibly surpass that of the giants.
Wasn't it too much of a loss to only advance innate physical strength to the advanced level after gaining the friendship of Dorry and Brogy?
Wouldn't Longleg Tribe or giant lineage be more appealing?
Overthinking was pointless, so Ralph shook his head inwardly.
In the end, it would probably come down to luck.
Just as he was lost in thought, a strange sensation suddenly surged through his body.
The reward for [Innate Physical Strength (Beginner)] began to take effect.
Warm energy once again welled up from deep within his body, flowing through his blood vessels to every part of his limbs.
Wherever it passed, muscle fibers seemed to be rewoven, becoming denser and more resilient;
His bones emitted faint cracking sounds, as if their density was increasing;
Tendons were stretched and strengthened...
It was a comprehensive transformation.
In just a few seconds, Ralph felt as if the muscles all over his body had been regenerated.
A sense of innate power surged within him.
He felt that if he threw a punch with all his strength now, its force would be at least three times greater than before.
Moreover, Ralph discovered an additional benefit of the system energy while it was transforming his body.
It automatically repaired damaged parts.
The dislocation in his right shoulder automatically reset as the energy flowed through it.
The injuries caused by the lightning strike also healed rapidly under the nourishing warmth.
Internally!
Aside from his charred appearance, he had mostly recovered.
But Ralph chose to continue feigning unconsciousness.
The reason was simple:
He was currently being held in Lufia's arms, in a princess carry.
Lufia's arms encircled his back and the bend of his knees, her rubbery body soft and elastic, gently rising and falling with the rhythm of her running.
Ralph's face was pressed against Lufia's chest—the sensation warm and comfortable, like lying on a latex mattress.
He kept his eyes closed, breathing steadily, doing his best to appear like an unconscious casualty.
Hadn't he risked his life for Lufia? Wasn't he entitled to enjoy this a little?
Besides, after escaping Loguetown, there shouldn't be any powerful enemies along the way, right!
If anything unexpected really happened, he could always "wake up in time" and intervene.
For now, he would just enjoy the moment.
Ralph gave himself a mental pat on the back.
Just as he was relaxing with his eyes closed, a clear female voice rang out from ahead.
It carried anger, grievance, and a hint of heartbreak from feeling deceived.
"...I never expected you to be Roronoa Zoro!"
The voice remained exceptionally clear even through the curtain of rain,
"How dare you deceive me! Unforgivable!!"
Short hair, round-framed glasses, and a famous sword, Shigure, in hand.
"Hey, hey,"
Sanji couldn't stand by and watch any longer. He turned to Zoro with a subtle expression, "Green-haired algae-head, when did you become so smooth? Actually managing to provoke a girl? But what exactly did you do to make her so angry?!"
Tashigi stood in the rain, water droplets clinging to her glasses, but her gaze remained fixed intently on Zoro, her chest heaving with emotion.
"Back at the weapons shop, you said you knew Mr. Ralph, so I thought you were an honorable swordsman too..."
Tashigi's voice trembled slightly, "So you're actually a pirate! And a member of the Straw Hat Pirates at that! I'll reclaim Wado Ichimonji from you! That's a famous sword—it shouldn't be in the hands of a pirate!"
Zoro completely ignored Sanji. Upon hearing Tashigi's words, he reached for the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.
"Then give it a try," he said.
His attention was now entirely focused on Tashigi.
Not because she was a girl, but because of that serious look in her eyes.
He had seen that look before.
In Kuina's eyes.
"You all go ahead."
Zoro spoke without turning his head, "I'll catch up soon."
The moment his words fell, he and Tashigi moved simultaneously.
Blades flashed through the rain, ringing with the crisp sound of metal clashing.
Raindrops struck the swords, shattering into finer mist upon impact.
"You bastard, you're really fighting a girl!"
Sanji was still shouting in discontent.
But Lufia had already made her decision.
She grabbed Sanji by the collar with one hand and yanked hard.
"Let's go, Sanji!"
Lufia shouted, "Zoro said he'll catch up soon! We have to trust our crewmate!"
With that, she dragged Sanji past the battling Zoro and Tashigi, continuing toward the port.
This movement led to a minor "accident."
Ralph, who had been in Lufia's embrace, now found himself being dragged by the collar as well.
"..."
He kept his eyes closed but was already cursing inwardly.
In a place no one noticed, Ralph's expression turned sour.
He grumbled to himself:
Damn that Sanji! If you hadn't run your mouth, I'd still be comfortably nestled in Lufia's arms!
Just as they were about to run out of Loguetown's gate, a white figure stood blocking the path.
Two cigars hung from his mouth, his short white hair soaked by the rain and plastered to his forehead. His Navy uniform was open, revealing a sturdy chest.
White Hunter Smoker.
"We meet again," Smoker spoke slowly, his voice low, "Straw Hat Girl."
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